About
We envision an African continent where rural communities are socially and economically self-sufficient and thriving. Since 1981, the African Food and Peace Foundation (AFPF), a U.S. 501(c) (3) based in Concord, MA, together with our North American friends/partners, we have supported community-initiated rural development projects in partnership with the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT) located in Kagadi, Uganda. Many rural villagers did not attend school, especially girls, thus began our journey from village meetings to building a school campus and community infrastructure to tertiary education for young women. By providing them with the necessary tools, we are able to create peace, health, prosperity, freedom, and happiness for them, their families, and the communities. For over 40 years, together, we’ve empowered girls, women, and youth in rural Uganda through innovative education, grassroots training, and community-led development.
Areas We Support
Improved equity, quality, and access to education for women and girls
Entrepreneurship through technical and vocational skills
Peace through advancements in health and social welfare, as well as Environmental sustainability.
Food security through improved agricultural practices
Our Development Partners
Over 10,000 women, girls, and youth have benefited and continue to benefit the education and training programs offered at Uganda Rural Development & Training Programme (URDT). We founded URDT in 1987 to address the missing link in development programmes, the merger of: truly functional education; consciousness and conscience raising; skills training; rural development interventions with the intent of empowering marginalized people living in rural communities in Uganda. URDT’s work exemplifies the power of pairing two fundamentals to transformation: 1) clear, structural thinking about the creative process, and 2) collaborative local action to fulfill the aspirations of individuals and their communities. Read more..
Our Unique Approach to Development - The Creative Process
Four decades of the application and evolution of the Visionary Approach, Systems Thinking & Partnership as our unique models to development. These approaches are philosophically neutral and suitable for all cultures and circumstances. For proof of our concept Watch the 25 Award Winning trailer "The Uganda Project" by Robert Fritz and Reint Bakema. This is an inspiring feature documentary about the use of structural dynamics and the creative process in world development. Robert Fritz, composer, filmmaker and organizational consultant is founder of Robert Fritz Inc. and author of the international bestseller The Path of Least Resistance. During the past twenty-five years, over 80,000 people in 27 countries have participated in trainings created by Robert Fritz. His insights on the creative process and structural dynamics serve as the foundation of meaningful and lasting change for both individuals and organizations.
Be Part of Whats Next
Africa's future depends on economic stability, literacy, and food security. This requires vibrant rural economies with educated people and thriving farms. To meet this need, the African Food and Peace Foundation partners with educational institutions and community organizations. URDT has been evolving and delivering secular education currriculum that empowers people to envision a better future for themselves and their planet, and equipping them with the tools to achieve that vision and to teach others how to do so. Key to this work is the Uganda Development and Training Program (URDT) Girls' School. The school, founded in 2000, has provided free primary and secondary education to 970 young women and affected 3800 family members through shared vision.
Our Innovations
The award winning URDT Girls School Two Generation Approach and Back Home Projects enables students to be change-makers in their homes and communities, improve their healthy and family income. University Training for Women as Leaders in Rural Transformation. The first all women's university in East-Africa that provides value-based education to produce change-makers and change-agents. Satelite Approach to Vocational Training (Work, Learn, and Earn) - where young people at URDT learn more than a trade. They learn that their highest aspirations and their capacities to create farms or businesses employing and uplifting many other people. Young Africa Works funded by MasterCard Foundation to train 70,000 young men and women in dignified work. Their target is 70% of these students be women. 80% of African youth have inadequate education and huge army of unemployed and unemployable youth,which challenge remains to be addressed. Epicenter strategy of rural development - community centers led by African Rural University graduates in partnership with local government and people. The first East African Community Radio serving over 3 million listeners in community development programs
Connect. Invest. Empower
Meet Shakira: URDT Girls School student Shakira in front of her old house (insert). Her new permanent home is a result of her education.
With the opportunity of education, her life is transformed. She is three times less likely to be HIV positive, and she will have fewer children. Her future children's survival beyond age five have increased by 40%. She will earn 10-20% more once she starts working, and she will invest 90% of her earnings back to her children.
Our Educational Ecosystem
URDT Girls School
The URDT Girls School enrolls 230 girls per year. It's an award winning girls school whose 2 generation approach whereby students and their parents learn together, develop a shared vision for their home, analyze their current situation, apply systems thinking, team learning, plan together and learn new skills has been adopted by other schools in over 20 districts.
African Rural University for Women (ARU)
ARU has now 97 women graduates 50 of whom are now employed as Epicenter managers who after graduation are deployed to teach their communities in over 20 districts transforming over 10,000 lives across all districts. ARU is an all women's value based university, the first of its kind in the region to provide a model using the Visionary Approach. Unlike conventional models focused on solving problems, this approach emphasizes enabling communities/people create what they truly want. ARU has recently won an award. It has a unique approach of academic research and hands on community work designed for rural Africa who graduates scale up and replicate systems change in rural communities. Upon completion of their studies, All ARU graduates have ready work opportunities in rural transformation as Epicentre Managers with our Mother Organisation (URDT)
URDT Institute
Founded in 1983, the Award-winning URDT Vocational Institute enables young men and women to explore various trades and develop entrepreneurial skills. The goal is to cultivate well-rounded young entrepreneurs who spark the local economy.
Community Transformation Ecosystem
Epicenter Strategy
Since 2012, URDT has facilitated the establishment of community-based epicentres (CBEs). Through its African Rural University (ARU), URDT has developed a new breed of community development workers whom it deploys to 16 epicenters to demonstrate best practices in sustainable rural development and civic engagement. Currently, there are 50 epicentre managers and 17 students, each working with 10 groups annually. The Community Driven Development approach is a concept URDT has been holding since its inception in 1987: development starting in one place and spiralling like an epicentre from Kagadi, to Kibaale District, to Uganda, and ultimately covering the whole of Africa. The spirit is also captured in the URDT motto: AWAKENING THE SLEEPING GENIUS IN EACH OF US
KKCR Community Radio
More than 100 youth enhance their thinking and communication skills through volunteering as co-presenters or information secretaries. URDT's community radio station, KKCR, provides educational programming and culture-changing information. KKCR has a significant impact on mindsets and knowledge, attracting over 3 million listeners in rural areas. In 2007, URDT presented its experiences at a university in Sweden, successfully advocating for legal recognition of community media. From 2005 to 2008, KKCR received UNICEF awards for its child-oriented and participatory programs.
Pupil Managed School Farms
The PMSFP aims to enhance income and nutrition for pupils in 22 primary schools and rural households. Currently, 2,656 pupils are enrolled, with 1,364 families establishing home projects and over 2,000 pupils gaining essential skills. Launched in August 2015 and funded by HET BOSJE from the Netherlands, whereby pupils learn alongside the UNEB curriculum to become change agents in their homes and communities. As a result, there is sustainable income and health as both pupils and parents learn that each individual is key to his/her own development.
IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS
Over 70,000
artisans - young women and men
40+
Proof of Concept, Impactful, Accountability, & Transparency of Funds.
+2K
Individual Friends, Supporters, & Partners from North America.
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